What effect the dissolution of the 10Q team has on Timo Scheider’s comeback plans and why the project could find a continuation at the Schnitzelalm team
Timo Scheider’s anticipation was so high about his planned GT3 comeback with 10Q-Racing, but last week it became known that the Augsburg-based racing team founded by Thomas Zabel in 2018 no longer exists. 10Q-Racing’s two Mercedes-AMG GT3s have been taken over by Thomas Angerer’s Schnitzelalm team, which was previously active in GT4 and other areas.
Zabel has decided “for time reasons” to hand over the GT3 division of his team, according to the press release. With Schnitzelalm Racing, he has found a team that will continue the operations in the future.
“Taking over the two GT3 cars gives us a very good opportunity to enter GT3 racing,” said Schnitzelalm team boss Angerer. “I am very happy that this deal has come about and I am looking forward to the challenges we will now face. “
Talks between Scheider and Schnitzelalm team
But what does this mean for former DTM champion Scheider? According to information from , talks are underway between the team and the 43-year-old, who had concentrated on the World Rallycross Championship in recent years, about continuing the programme he started with 10Q-Racing.
Even though at first glance it seems to be a different team, not much would change for the ex-DTM driver, because behind Schnitzelalm-Racing is the experienced ex-HTP team manager Günter Aberer, who as technical director already implemented Scheider’s 10Q-Racing test in Portimao in mid-December with his engineers.
Nevertheless, team boss Angerer hinted in the press release that the Schnitzelalm team, which took the GT4 class SP10 title in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) in 2021, would initially like to bake smaller rolls in terms of GT3 in 2022.
Team boss announces “far-reaching” GT3 testing programme
“There are no fixed plans for races with the GT3 cars as yet,” said Angerer. “We will complete a wide-ranging test programme before we enter a championship on a permanent basis. The level in GT3 racing is extremely high and our ambition is to be among the front runners. It won’t happen overnight, but I’m sure we’ll be in a good position in the long run.”
In 2022, however, the focus will “once again be on the Mercedes-AMG GT4 and especially our entry in the ADAC GT4 Germany,” the team boss refers to the two Mercedes-AMG GT4 bolides.
Scheider entries still a topic, DTM unlikely
For Scheider, on the other hand, only a GT3 programme is an option. And even though the team boss is keeping a low profile, Scheider’s plans to compete in the 24-hour classics on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and in Spa-Francorchamps are by no means off the table, according to information from .
In addition to the GT classic in Macau, guest starts in the DTM are also considered unrealistic this season after the team takeover. This also has to do with not underestimating the challenge.
“Nobody would enjoy it – and I certainly wouldn’t – if I were on the last row of the grid. And the fans wonder why is he suddenly doing that shit again. And why does that have to be?” said Scheider in the Ran Racing podcast published on ‘ran.de‘ on 16 December 2021. “You have to approach that sensitively, whether the parameters and the package are right to the extent that you can dare to do that.”
Scheider knows: “Extensive preparations and tests would be necessary for a competitive entry because of the high level in the traditional series. But first of all, the new constellation at Schnitzelalm-Racing has to get used to the situation.